Colin Firth In Talks For 'Gambit' Redo

EXCLUSIVE: Colin Firth is in talks to star in Gambit, the Joel and Ethan Coen-scripted remake of the 1966 British action comedy that starred Michael Caine and Shirley MacLaine. The Last Station’s Michael Hoffman is directing.

Firth is again in the thick of the Oscar race for his role in the Tom Hooper-directed The King’s Speech.While the Coens just wrote and directed a remake in True Grit (they based theirs more on the original Charles Portis novel than the first film) it has taken a lot longer to get their scripted remake of Gambit into production, but not for lack of trying by producer Mike Lobell.

Hoffman signed on recently along with Crime Scene Pictures partners Adam Ripp and Rob Paris, who’ll provide financing through their upstart company. Glen Basner signed on to sell foreign territories though FilmNation. Their hope is to get the picture shooting in London and Texas before summer.

Firth would play a cat burglar who attempts to rob a billionaire of his priceless statue. He enlists the help of a waitress who looks exactly like the victim’s dead wife. The burglar’s usual precision is clouded by his relationship with his accomplice. Firth is repped by CAA.

I could go on and on. I personally like to see an update or a new spin on the story. For example remaking Richard III and setting it in a pre-WWII like mileau was brilliant. I loved the way they used the line “A Horse, A Horse, My Kingdom For A Horse” by getting Richard III’s jeep stuck in the mud!

kevin • on Dec 13, 2010 11:04 am

Ok, first, the Coens can do whatever the fuck they want, they have brought more originality to the screen than 99% of directors. Second, to call the Coens “Hollywood” is ignorant and fucking asinine, Hollywood is “Transformers” or “season of the witch” or “Clash of the Titans”. The Coens do whatever they want with or without Hollywoods help. Stop repeating what you hear about all the Hollywood remakes reboots and sequels, and actually form your own opinion. The Reboot remake and sequel thing is a GIANT problem, but the Coens arent part of it.

talleyrand • on Dec 13, 2010 11:04 am

soon as firth gets the oscar he’ll pass…

kevin • on Dec 13, 2010 11:04 am

Soooo…Firth winning the Oscar all of a sudden makes him ABOVE the Oscar winning Coens???? You have no idea what your talking about, this would be the perfect career move on his part.

and when he does pass – then Dennis Quaid gets attached? do they have really money? who is distributing? when Quaid passes then who? Michael Rooker? and when he passes then 4 or 5 rewrites are done to get Rampage Jackson? who will pass. then who? will Zac Efron do it? more rewrites and round and round it will go.